Lost in the Void
A/N: my first attempt, please feel free to point out any mistakes.
Disclaimer: Me don't own, Tamora Pierce owns
Chap 1
A rapid and insistent knocking shattered the still silence of the dark bedroom. Two shapes curled in each other's arms jerked as they were rudely pulled from sleep. The smaller figure gently untangled herself and hurriedly reached for a shirt as the rapping increased in tempo.
"Coming, coming," she called.
Absently pulling on an overlarge robe to ward against the chill, she padded out to the door. A squire stood panting in the hall, his hands raised for another flurry of knocking. Before she could get a good look at him, he gasped, "His Majesty wants to see you and Master Numair immediately. He tells me to apologize for the hour but that it extremely important, and that there is trouble in the east."
She sighed and nodded, "Give us a moment" before turning back from the door.
A tall shape emerged from the inner room. One glance at her worried face informed him of the situation. "Where?"
"The east."
"What have they cooked up this time?"
"I don't know, but Jon sounds worried."
He sighed and turned back, "Come magelet, the sooner we solve this, the better."
A moment later the pair entered the conference room used for these midnight summons. They found only a few people in the room. The King spoke to his chief adviser, Gareth (Gary) the Younger of Naxen, at same time leafing through a considerable pile of reports. At their entrance, he looked up and gave a small smile.
"Ah, Daine, Numair. I apologize again for the late, or early, hour."
Daine smiled, brushing back and errant curl, "Well, at this stage we should be used to it by now. I heard there is trouble again."
Jonathan frowned, "Yes, our spies in Scanra seem to be vanishing at an alarming rate, and a recent report spoke of the disappearance of an entire Company.
"They vanished near the Scanran border, which affirmed our suspicions. But the most alarming aspect is that they disappeared without a trace. We have already tried mage scrying, but it's as if they never existed."
"We have their last correspondence," Gareth added, "but they are very inconclusive. There are hints of strange occurrences, but nothing solid we can investigate." He extracted a sheaf of papers from the pile on the table, and handed it to Numair.
The mage leafed through the documents, a frown forming on his brow. "You're right there isn't much, but these hints are enough to suggest a major working, 'heat hazes at midnight', 'nocturnal flowers blooming in the middle of the day'…" He looked up, "I can think of quite a few spells that would have some of these effects, but I will need more information."
"Yes, I had wanted to ask you and Daine to scout this area. See what you can find, it would be best if we had some warning if Scanra decides to launch another attack. Here is a map of the Company's last confirmed position," the King turned his gaze on them, "But don't do anything jeopardizing. We need you to return in one piece."
"Yessir, I'll make sure Numair doesn't exhaust himself trying to figure it out. After the last time he went after something, I'd rather not repeat the experience," Daine said lightly, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere. It worked, everyone chuckled.
Numair blushed and glared at his love. "Well the sooner we star the sooner we will finish," he muttered still glaring at her. Daine grinned. They left together, to gather their belongings, and prepare to face the unknown again.
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A/N: Hey, I know it's short and doesn't have much, but it should get better (next chapter). Be patient with me :)